WAFCON 2022: Morocco Stop Gallant 9 Women Falcons On Penalty Shoot Out

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July 19, 2022

Nigeria withstood a number of adversities before narrowly losing to host nation Morocco after penalty shoot-out, in a supercharged 12^th Women Africa Cup of Nations semi final match in Rabat on Monday.

A total of 45,562 spectators turned the Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah into a boiling cauldron, and only their experience, guts, grit and determination kept the nine-time African champions firmly in the game as their every move was booed while the Lionesses were roared on the moment they had the ball.

The Lionesses, who last played at the Women AFCON 22 years ago, before the current finals that they are hosting, started like a house on fire and pegged the Falcons to the rear in the early minutes. But gangling Ifeoma Onumonu should have given Nigeria the lead in the 13^th minute when she was brilliantly set up by Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene.

Three minutes later, Okobi again showed good anticipation to truncate the Moroccan surge, and set up Onumonu, but the forward again failed to make hay.

In the 34^th minute, Okobi deftly intercepted again at the edge of the box, but her effort screamed away from goal.

Admittedly, the Lionesses were comfortable on the ball with excellent control and crisp passes, with captain Ghizlane Chebbak, Sanaa Mssoudy and the precocious Fatima Tagnaout threatening the Nigeria goal now and again as they weaved swiftly about the pitch.

Three minutes into the second half, Mauritian referee Maria Rivet stopped play for a VAR check, only to return and hand a red card to midfielder Halimat Ayinde. The decision shocked the Super Falcons, who had been been challenged by lasers focused on their eyes by spectators, but they refused to cave in to onslaught after onslaught by Mssoudy, Tagnaout, Yasmin Mrabet and Rosella Ayane.

In the 52^nd minute, captain Onome Ebi saved on the line with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stranded, and it was the turn of Ashleigh Plumptre to do same two minutes later as Ebi crashed into Nnadozie in yet another invasion by the Lionesses.

In the 55^th minute, Rasheedat Ajibade’s pull-out was plucked by goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi, but seven minutes later, Nigeria were ahead after Ajibade twisted, turned and crossed for Ifeaoma Onumonu to powerfully head against the upright. The melee saw Yasmin Mrabet flick the ball into her own net.

Morocco were level only four minutes after, when Nnadozie failed to deal with a cross by the ubiquitous Tagnaout and Mssoudy gratefully slammed into the net.

In the 71^st minute, Rivet again stopped play for a VAR check, and this time handed Rasheedat Ajibade a red card, reducing the Falcons to nine women.

Nnadozie made a dozen saves towards the end and in the ensuing extra time, with the Lionesses all over the place, but Nigeria could have won it when Gift Monday beat the hosts’ defence on the counter and crashed a well-measured shot against the crossbar, only for the ball to roll out.

In the penalty shootout, forward Ifeoma Onumonu missed for Nigeria as Rita Chikwelu, Regina Otu, Ashleigh Plumptre and Gift Monday scored. Morocco scored all their kicks, through Yasmin Mrabet, Ghizlane Chebbak, Zineb Redouane, Nesryne El Chad and Rosella Ayane.

Morocco will take on South Africa (1-0 winners over Zambia in the first semi final) in Saturday’s final in Rabat, while the Super Falcons tango with the Copper Queens of Zambia for the bronze medals in Casablanca on Friday.

ASUU To Meet August 1, Set To Take Fresh Decision On Strike

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 19, 2022

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities‘ National Executive Council is expected to meet on the 1st of August, 2022 over the lingering strike.

The council members are meeting to decide on whether to suspend or continue with the strike which enters its 155th day on Tuesday (today).

The Chairman of ASUU, Federal University of Technology, Minna chapter, Gbolahan Bolarin confirmed that the meeting will be held in the first week of August.

According to Bolarin, the meeting would be held either on July 30 or August 1, 2022.

ASUU had complained about the failure of the federal government to approve the deployment of the Universities Transparency Accountability System (UTAS).

The union had also insisted on the release of the White Paper of the visitation panels to universities and the release of revitalisation funds for the development of universities, among others.

Bolarin, however, rule out the possibility of suspending the strike ahead of the meeting.

He noted that the federal government has not brought anything to the table that can lead to such decision.

Bolarin said, “We are not even at a point to vote on continuation or not because there is nothing from the Federal Government yet.

“The NEC will be holding its meeting early next month (August). That should be August 1. The meeting might even be on July 30.”

Gynaecologist debunks myth on Fibroid Surgery preventing Pregnancy

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Cleopatra Okohai

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July 19, 2022

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An Associate Professor and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, Dr. Uche Agu, has debunked the claim that women who have fibroid and go for surgery won’t get pregnant.

Dr. Agu said some people have erroneously assumed that when a fibroid is operated upon the woman will never be pregnant.

The maternal health expert, however, stressed that surgery is the best treatment option for women who have fibroid and want to achieve pregnancy.

Speaking in an interview, the gynaecologist stated that there are reasons why some women who have fibroid can have babies while others do not.

Dr. Agu cautioned against using drugs to shrink the fibroid, noting that women who have fibroid and are desirous of having children should seek treatment from maternal health experts.

He said, “Some people have erroneous beliefs about fibroid; that fibroid should not be operated upon and that anybody that goes for surgery will never be pregnant again.

“Some people have an erroneous impression that once you do fibroid surgery, you will not be able to conceive, but that is wrong.

“If the surgery is conducted by an experienced and good hand, the person will achieve pregnancy faster and safely.

“In most cases, women that have fibroid want to get pregnant and what we recommend for them is surgery.

“The best option for a woman who wants to get pregnant is to have it done by an experienced gynaecologist.

“Women should access care from a good gynaecologist that would do it properly. Surgery is good but it depends on who did the surgery and where it was done.”

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, fibroids are benign (not cancer) growths that develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus.

ACOG says the size, shape, and location of fibroids can vary greatly.

“They may be inside the uterus, on its outer surface or within its wall, or attached to it by a stem-like structure. A woman may have only one fibroid or many of varying sizes.

“Fibroids may have the following symptoms: changes in menstruation, heavy menstrual periods, menstrual pain, pressure difficulty urinating or frequent urination, constipation, miscarriages, infertility, etc,” the ACOG said.

Dr. Agu pointed out that fibroid could be treated in several ways depending on the reason why it is being treated.

He noted, “Fibroid can be treated using drugs to reduce the symptoms. It can be treated with radiological interventions. However, if a woman has a fibroid and wants to achieve pregnancy, the best option is surgery and the woman can get pregnant.

“Using drugs to shrink the fibroid is not compatible with pregnancy. What drugs tend to achieve is to knock off the stimulation from the hormone. So, what the drugs do is knock off the ovaries and they are not compatible with pregnancy.

“The woman cannot be pregnant but the symptoms can abate. Therefore, they should go to the gynecologist and get the fibroid out if they want to have children.”

The associate professor expressed displeasure over the erroneous beliefs about fibroid which he noted had landed a lot of women with the condition into trouble.

“Some women that have fibroid claim that there are places that they can go and they get massages on their tummies and then the fibroid disappears.

“There are also those who believe that there are drugs that women with fibroid can take that can make them pass it out through the vagina. And that is why they keep on taking all sorts of herbs.

“Some have more confidence in taking traditional herbs to treat fibroid just because they are afraid of having surgeries and all that.

“But all those things are wrong and they have put a lot of women into trouble”, he said.

According to the health expert, there are lots of fake stories out there that are discouraging women that have fibroid from going for surgery.

He said, “We do not say fibroid causes infertility so to say because women that have fibroid have children.

“However, there are some locations of fibroids that will cause infertility. It depends on the position of the fibroid.

“That is why you have some women that have fibroid they still get pregnant and have babies while there are other women who have fibroid and cannot achieve pregnancy.

“It depends on where the fibroid is located. If it is located close to the fallopian tubes, if it is blocking the tubes, it can cause infertility. It can also cause infertility if it is also located within the cavity of the womb where the baby can attach and grow.”

Dr. Agu urged women that have fibroid to stop patronising quacks and traditional homes for treatment.

Warning against the dangers of seeking help in unorthodox places and taking local concoctions, the gynaecologist said, “The problem with fibroid comes from people who are not experienced.

“They could injure the lining of the womb and the woman may not see her menses again. They may have complications. Those who have their tubes inadvertently removed, may not be pregnant again.

“Some will even take those local concoctions and will never see their menses again. Some may take the concoction and it will knock off their ovaries and they will never see their menses.

“Some of the local concoctions get the fibroid matted together and by the time they come for surgery, it becomes difficult to operate. I have seen cases like that.

“Those massaging their tummies are wasting their time and giving the fibroid a chance to grow bigger and by the time they realised the damage they have done to themselves, the fibroid would have grown so big.”

Aviation Union Threatens To Shut Down All Airports Over ASUU Strike

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 19, 2022

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The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP, has threatened to shut down the 32 airports across the country in solidarity with the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) next week Tuesday.

This is coming against the backdrop of the National Labour Congress, NLC, directive to its members to embark on a nationwide protest on July 26 and 27 in solidarity with the strike by the ASUU.

ANAP General Secretary, Abdulrasaq Saidu, in a statement stated that the protracted strike has added to social vices in the country as students now engage in unpalatable activities capable of destroying their future.

He noted that the over four-month strike had ridiculed Nigeria’s educational system and made it a laughing stock.

The statement reads: “ASUU, NASU, SAUTHRIAI, NAAT had been on strike for more than four months due to the apparent failure of government to sign the re-negotiated 2009 Agreement with ASUU, failure to honour the terms reached at in May 2022 MoU signed with ASUU, and habitual failure of government to respect Collective Bargaining Agreements willingly signed with labour Unions.

“Not only the students were suffering but parents and the society, the poor economy has also affected every home in the country.

“Education remained the bedrock of any country aspiring for greatness, and the ASUU strike will eventually lead to a regrettable situation in future if not well-handled.

“Our children are using eight years to read courses of four years with resources being wasted. We cannot continue this way.”

The union said its members would align with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) position in protesting against the unfortunate situation in the tertiary education sector.

ASUU Strike: Varsity Students Back NLC, Mobilise for Protest

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 19, 2022

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Following the declaration of a two-day protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress to solidarise with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, some student bodies and other rights groups have backed the call to action.

The National Association of University Students, in a statement obtained on Tuesday, said its members were ever ready to join the NLC in the protest slated for July 26 and 27, 2022.

The statement, signed by the Deputy National President of NAUS, Mohammed Ibrahim, dated July 17, asked students across the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to commence mobilisation for the nationwide protest to end the lingering ASUU strike.

The statement read, “Solidarity greetings to you in the name of Aluta, the NAUS leadership is greatly indebted to the leadership of the NLC for her show of unconditional concern for the Nigerian Students. The NLC’s announcement of her resolution to stage a nationwide protest is greatly welcomed in the students’ constituency. For us, this is nothing short of a miracle; a heavenly intervention which would not have at better time than now. We are therefore prepared and ever ready to join in this great solidarity movement with the NLC.

“In the same vein, we want to acknowledge the great contributions, perseverance, courage and resilience as demonstrated by our members and stakeholders during the last protest in Abuja.

“Sequel to the above, NAUS shall be part of the protest nationwide to demand the immediate resolution of issues between the Federal Government and ASUU so our students can go back to the classes.

“Consequently, all NAUS stakeholders; Students’ Union Presidents, Zonal Vice Presidents, Campus Monitoring Committee Chairmen, members and the general public are hereby put on high notice to mobilise, organise and get prepared to be part of this unprecedented movement.

“By and large, all NAUS CMCs, in collaboration with their various SUG presidents, are mandated to be part of the struggle with the NLC in their various states, including the FCT.”

Also, a rights group, the Take It back Movement, has called on its members to mobilise nationwide to join the NLC’s protest.

“The Take It Back Movement supports the two-day nationwide protest declared by the NLC over the ongoing ASUU strike. We call on students, workers, and particularly all our members nationwide to mobilise and join the action in their respective states,” the group said on its Twitter page, Monday.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022.

Etebi-Enwang Project: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel Inspects Nigeria’s 4th Longest Bridge

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Angel Gimalo

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July 18, 2022

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has led his executive council members on an inspection visit of the ongoing construction on the Etebi-Enwang Bridge project linking Mbo with Esit Eket local government area.

This is to ascertain the progress of work and charge the contractors on timely completion of the project.

South-south Akwa Ibom currently has 4th longest bridge already in Ibeno LGA of the state (1100m long ) and will soon replace it with the longest one in Mbo LGA still in Akwa Ibom state.

Osun Election: Take Responsibility, End Impunity For Vote Buying Now, SERAP Tells INEC

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Henry Williams

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July 18, 2022

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “take responsibility and end impunity for vote-buying and undue influence in Nigeria’s elections by promptly ensuring the arrest and prosecution of suspected perpetrators of these criminal acts in the Osun State governorship election.”

There are reports of a brazen pattern of vote-buying and electoral bribery in several polling units particularly by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the Osun Governorship election conducted on Saturday 16 July 2022. Vote trading was witnessed in several polling units.

In the letter dated 16 July 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “INEC seems to have furthered a general policy of impunity for vote buying and undue influence in elections by refusing to prosecute suspected perpetrators and their sponsors.”

SERAP said, “INEC has quite an impressive portfolio of powers of its own to curb and punish vote buying, and need not wait for other agencies before meting out its own effective means of prevention and prosecution.”

According to SERAP, “Nigerians rely on INEC to curb vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence in elections but nothing will ever change if INEC won’t pursue charges against suspected perpetrators and their sponsors.”

SERAP also said, “The acts of vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence are clearly contrary to the express provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, and international standards.”

The letter, read in part: “If INEC fails to act, vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence would remain a permanent feature of Nigeria’s elections because corrupt politicians and their sponsors would continue to engage in these criminal acts with impunity.”

Passenger Plane Crashes In Somalia, 30 People On Board Safely Evacuated

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 18, 2022

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A passenger plane has crashed in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu with the 30 people on board safely evacuated.

Airport authorities said passengers and crew have disembarked from the Jubba Airways-operated plane, which was arriving on a domestic flight from the inland city of Baidoa.

There was no immediate report of any injuries or reasons given for the cause of the crash.

Smoke billows from a plane that flipped over after a crash landing, in Mogadishu, Somalia, July 18, 2022, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video obtained by Reuters.

The plane crash-landed outside Mogadishu’s international airport and then caught fire.

Pictures from the scene posted on social media showed black smoke billowing from the wreckage.

Shaking Babies could cause Brain damage, Blindness, Paediatrician warns Parents

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Cleopatra Okohai

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July 18, 2022

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A paediatrician, Dr. Faidat Yusuf, has warned parents and caregivers against shaking babies below two years vigorously while playing with them, noting that doing so can result in permanent brain damage, blindness, and movement disorder.

According to the expert, shaking children with force can lead to ‘shaken baby syndrome’ – a serious neurological or brain injury that occurs as a result of shaking an infant or toddler.

Dr. Yusuf who works at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital explained that the bones in the head of babies are soft, adding that the neck muscles supporting the head are also weak.

She stated that when an infant is, therefore, forcefully shaken, trauma to the brain can occur.

She said this could lead to an injury to both the neck and head, noting that rocking or petting a child doesn’t qualify as vigorous or forceful shaking.

Speaking in an interview, Dr. Yusuf said, “Shaken baby syndrome is a serious neurological or brain injury that occurs as a result of shaking an infant or a toddler which results in trauma to the brain.

“Usually, the major features that would be seen in the child include things like the presence of retinal haemorrhage, which is bleeding into the retina, and then there could be subdural haemorrhage that is bleeding into the brain, and also, features of encephalopathy, which is damage to the brain will be seen.”

When asked about the symptoms a baby could present, the paediatrician said, “The symptoms one can see in a baby that would make you suspect shaken baby syndrome include excessive sleepiness or drowsiness, the baby might be crying excessively or be excessively irritable, there might be evidence of swelling in different parts of the head or swelling in a particular part of the head.

“The baby could also have abnormal body movement or convulsion which would point to the fact that there is neurologic damage.”

She stated that the perpetrator of this type of injury is usually the caregiver of the child, which is either the mother or the father, adding that the injury often occurs as a result of frustration.

Dr. Yusuf further noted that usually, unmanaged postpartum depression could lead to frustration from taking care of a child and the mother could shake the child forcefully which can result in shaken baby syndrome.

Speaking on how the syndrome is diagnosed and treated, Dr. Yusuf said, “It is usually diagnosed by doing a brain CT in which you could see evidence of damage to the brain.

“Sometimes there is evidence of brain swelling and there might be evidence of infraction or damage to certain parts of the brain as well as possible evidence of bleeding into the brain.

“Sometimes there’s even evidence of skull fracture. And then also the history and symptoms a child has would guide you towards making the diagnosis,” she said.

The child care expert, however, noted that there are no specific treatments for shaken baby syndrome, stressing that the most important thing is prevention.

She said, “In terms of treatments, there are no specific treatments for shaken baby syndrome. Usually, it is a form of symptomatic management. If there is any evidence of a skull fracture you need to manage that, if there is evidence of bleeding to the brain then you might need to do surgery to decompress and try to relieve the haemorrhage that the child is having.

“If the child is having evidence of brain swelling, there are certain medications that can be given or ways to support the child’s breathing and respiration to reduce the brain damage that the child has.”

According to her, some children that suffer from the syndrome could die, while some might suffer permanent neurologic damage which could result in future blindness in the child.

She stated further that in the long term, the child could also suffer cerebral palsy which is a disorder of movement, adding that the child could also have speech problems later on in life.

Dr. Yusuf said, “For some children, it might result in some form of mental retardation later in life.

“The child could have permanent neurological problems. So, it is the symptom that the child presents with that will determine the management of the long-term complications

“So those that present with cerebral palsy might need physiotherapy, children that present with blindness might need to go to special schools to help with that, children with hearing problems might need hearing aids, and so on.”

She also stated that the syndrome could be caused by intentional injuries to the child as a result of traditional practices.

“So informing and educating the public about such practices is necessary. People should not shake infants vigorously to avoid brain injury,” she said

“That is why we try to increase awareness about it but the most important thing is prevention.

“There is also a need to raise awareness on postpartum depression because some of those that perpetrate this injury to the child could be suffering from it. They are not doing it in their right state of mind, they do it because they are depressed.

“So if there is more awareness regarding the symptoms of post-partum depression a mother could suffer, and also early treatment, this will help reduce the incidence of the shaken baby syndrome,” the expert said.

Project AirSim: Microsoft Launches Simulator To Train Drone AI Systems

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 18, 2022

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Microsoft has launched a platform to train the artificial intelligence (AI) systems of autonomous aircraft.

Project AirSim is, in effect, a flight simulator for drones, which companies can use to train and develop software controlling them.

It makes it possible for test flights in places that would be too risky in reality, such as near power lines.

And it means, Microsoft says, that millions of flights can be simulated in seconds.

For example, companies can virtually see how the vehicle flies in rain, or how strong winds might affect its battery life.

In a statement announcing the launch, Microsoft’s Gurdeep Pall said that it showed “the power of the industrial metaverse – the virtual worlds where businesses will build, test and hone solutions, and then bring them into the real world”.

The firm envisages the tech being used to train the AI systems which fly autonomous air vehicles from air taxis to delivery drones.